On the Road with Senior Internet Training
Francie Davis
Diane Holliday
Reference Librarian / Assistant Professor
Reference Librarian / Instructor
davisf@dowling.edu
Phone: (631) 244-3283
Phone: (631) 244-3397
Abstract
Envisioned by the Nassau Library System, funded with a New York State managed grant, and developed and taught by reference librarians at Dowling College, Library Seniors Internet Training (LIST) was a mobile program for Internet training to senior citizens. It served almost one thousand students in fifteen different public libraries, within a 50-mile radius, on Long Island. Armed with a map, a curriculum, a portable hub, eleven laptops, a data projector, cables, and extension cords, Dowling College reference librarians proved that traveling training was a viable option for providing internet instruction for senior citizens at libraries that did not have group training facilities. The success of the endeavor was evident from the fact that large waiting lists resulted in additional classes. An additional indication of success came in the form of participant evaluations.

This poster session will discuss the program's funding and curriculum, the cooperation among the various partners, the technology requirements, and obstacles to overcome in planning such a program. It will also address the numerous benefits to the senior citizens, the library system, the hosting library, and the instructors.

Partnership among 3 Library Entities:

  • Nassau Library System (NLS)
  • Host Public Library
  • Dowling College Librarians
    •  Funding
  • $50,000 LSTA Grant administered through New York State
  • Grant covered 65% of costs of equipment and trainer's salaries
  • Remaining costs shared equally among 40 of the 54 Nassau Library System member libraries
    •  Each Library Visit Required the Transportation of:
  • 11 laptops
  • 11 two-button mice
  • 11 network cards
  • 12 cables (each at least 15 feet long)
  • 1 cross link cable for library system patch panel
  • 1 portable hub (20 ports)
  • 1 data projector
  • Numerous extension cords and power strips
    •  Each Library Visit Required NLS to:
  • Prepare the system router so11 laptops and hub became a secondary network
    •  Each Library Visit Required Public Libraries to:
  • Make sure of sufficient bandwidth - T1 lines
  • Have a category 5 cable connector
  • Connect the cross link cable
  • Have the space to accommodate hardware and people - usually a public meeting room
    •  Each Library Visit Required the Instructors to:
  • Set up and properly place the equipment
  • Change the gateway addresses on each computer
  • Set computer homepages to customized training page*
    • *Some libraries furnished their own equipment for the class. These libraries needed the home page changed and security programs disabled on each computer.   The Curriculum:
  • Progressed from simple skills to complex ideas
  • Used several student exercises
  • Stressed eye-hand coordination and understanding Internet terminology
  • Is 2.5 hours in duration
  • Is taught from a Web page designed for the course.
  • Handouts supplemented the web page by providing URL's
  • Assumed no prior computer or Internet knowledge on the part of the students
  • Was a collaborative effort among the instructors
    •


    Topics Covered:

  • Mouse use
  • The browser
  • Cursor changes
  • Simple navigation with scroll bars and back / forward buttons
  • Links and where they take us
  • Parts of a URL
  • Components needed to connect to the Web
  • Introduction to engaging Web sites
  • Suggested sites browsing
  • Bookmarks introduction
  • Search engine discussion
  • Evaluation skills for Web sites
  • e-mail basics
    •      The Instructors:
  • Color-coded the equipment
  • Created homepage and handout
  • Tested the curriculum on senior citizen volunteers and staff members from NLS
  • Received a map, directions to each library, instructions for set-up, course handouts, evaluation sheets, and class rosters
  • Traveled 3936 miles between Dowling College and hosting libraries
  • Taught 71 classes at 15 public libraries and have had contact with 1200 senior citizens
  • Have subsequently trained public library staff on hardware set-up
    •


    Each library session had it's own difficulties:

  • Improper placement of cross link cable
  • NLS failing to change system router
  • Instructors failing to make all connections in set up
  • Instructors incorrectly changing the gateway addresses on each computer
  • Prior computer users removing all IP addresses
  • Public library technicians being absent or too helpful
    •


    Difficulties encountered for libraries providing their own equipment:

  • Lack of uniformity in hardware and software
  • Lack of demonstration equipment
  • Lack of privacy (classes taught in the middle of reference area)
  • Physical layout challenges
  • Too many people for number of computers and physical space available
  • Library-installed security programs interfered with change of homepage
    •


    Steps for Success:

  • Proper placement of equipment
  • Uniformity of hardware and software
  • Utilize 2 instructors (1:10 or less, strongly recommended)
  • Store equipment in a uniform manner, every computer, cable in same place within each case.
  • Dynamic instructor interaction with students
  • Create a checklist for instructors
  • Patience, patience and more patience!
    •


    Benefits of the program:

  • Senior Citizens gained confidence and knowledge
  • Many had retired before the advent of the Web and the age of ubiquitous computing
  • Many desire the computer knowledge that their grandchildren readily display
  • They gave overwhelmingly positive responses in class evaluations
    •